INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The man who was accused of molesting an autistic teenager at the North County Library committed suicide while out on bond, police say.
Richard Moore, 56, of Vero Beach was arrested in April and faced a charge of sexual battery on a “mentally defective” person and unlawful sexual activity with a minor after Indian River County Sheriff’s Det. Jeremy Shepherd interviewed him, according to a press release.
Moore died of an apparent suicide Sunday, May 8, in the 8000 block of 105th Court, at 12:30 p.m., according to Indian River County Spokesman Lt. Eric Flowers. He suffered a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation is still active.
Moore was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a 17-year-old autistic child, according to authorities. Moore met the child at the North County Library in Sebastian.
After several meetings at the library, Moore talked the child into going to his house, where the alleged sexual activity occurred. While at his home, Moore used gifts to lure the child into sexual activity with him, police said.
Detectives learned during the course of their investigation that Moore may have had relations with other children in the area.
Moore had been held at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bond until he made bail through a bondsmen.
